¿74 ObieEí out againf the certainty ofortr eleal - were maketh it more changeable than the Moone, which one while fhineth with full brightneffe, and in (mall diftance of time cannot be difcerned ; and to this end let vs know, firf}, that though in our felues wee bee not worthy ofthe leafl of Godsmercies,yct Our vnworthines maketh vs notvncapable ofthe greatefl,for all Godsbenefits arehis free gifts, which he promifeth andbefloweth without any refpc& ofour wor- thines ordeferts, ofhis meere grace and vndcferued loue:and therefore as whenweare moffworthie in our owne conceit, there is no reafonwhy wefhouldprefume the more; fo when we findour feluesvnworthy,there is no caufewhywe fhould hope the leffe, or be more weaklyaffured ofGodspromifes; foras they are notmade vpon the condition ofour worthi- neflè, fo theyare not difanulled and made vbide byour vn- worthineffe, otherwife no man liuing could haue affurance ofthem, feeingall men liuing are vnworthie ofthem. But the Lord hathmade alibis, protnifes vntovs in Chrifl, who was fent tobee our Mediatour, to the end that wewho were altogether vnworthie in our felues, might be madeworthie inhimófall Godsmerciesandbenefits. And thereforewho- foeuer`lay Hold vpon Chrifl, with a true though a weake faith, andbringfoorth the fruites thereofinrepentance,they may certainlie bee affured of their ele&lion and faluation, notwithilanding their vnworthineffe. Secondly, we are to know that our faith doth notrefpe&ourfelues in our (clues, neither arewee the obied}thereof, but Chrifl and hismerits and obedience; whom our faith doth not behold{landing aloofe of(as the Papìfls dreatne) butas hee is vnitedvnto vs, and become our headandwe histnembers;fo as nowwe can- not looke vpon our felues but we mufflooke vpon Chrifl,be- caufe hee is in vs andwee in him. And therefore whenwee confider thegreatneffe ofour finnes we defpairenot,becaufe nowwe lookevpon themas they are tranflated fromvs and laidvponChrif}, who bath fully fatisfied hisfathers iuflice by. his alone and al-fuffiicient facrifice vpon the croffe; when weconfider our 'imperfe&ions we doubt not ofGods pro- htifes,becaufe they are couered with his perfearighteouf- ,neffe when- wee confider our vnworthineffe wee are not difcourageds
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